Hazel was annoyed. No, scratch that—she was furious.
Every piece of news about her sister seemed to set her blood boiling, and now, to make matters worse, her business was taking a massive hit thanks to Althea’s latest folly.
"I’ll teach that girl a lesson!" Hazel fumed, pacing as she imagined the conversation she would have.
She pictured herself talking sense into her sister, pulling her back from what Hazel believed was the biggest mistake of her life so far.
Thud!
Her plane landed at Parkland City Airport with a jolt.
Traveling light, Hazel had only packed a single backpack, confident that the task ahead would be quick and straightforward.
She hailed a taxi, giving the driver an address she had gotten from the private investigator she hired just days prior.
An hour later, the cab pulled up to a location far from the bustling heart of the city. The area was secluded, and for good reason.
Before her loomed a massive mansion, hidden behind towering gates that exuded an air of exclusivity and wealth.
"Thank you," Hazel muttered, handing the driver his fare before stepping out. She stared at the gate, trying to suppress a growing sense of unease.
Hazel pressed the doorbell once. Twice. Still nothing. Frustration bubbled up as she continued trying, ringing the bell repeatedly, only to be met with silence.
By her twenty-first attempt, she was on the verge of giving up when, at last, a sweet voice came through the intercom.
"Yes?" the voice asked, light and curious.
"Hello, good morning!" Hazel began, her tone brisk.
"This is Hazel Quinn. Is my sister, Althea Quinn, inside? If she is, could you please open the gate? I’d like to speak to her in person, and I don’t have time to go hunting for her all over the city."
Hazel had already called Althea’s phone a thousand times, but every attempt had gone straight to voicemail. It felt as though her sister had dropped off the face of the earth.
"Althea? Oh, yes, she’s here," the woman on the other end replied, her tone suddenly laced with amusement.
"So she has a sister, huh? This should be fun. Please, come inside."
With a soft hum, the massive gates swung open automatically, inviting Hazel onto the estate. Shouldering her backpack, she stepped through, her determination outweighing any apprehension.
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A few minutes later, Hazel stood face to face with her sister, Althea.
"Oh… you’re here!" Althea’s face lit up, and before Hazel could react, her sister rushed forward, wrapping her in a tight hug.
All the stern words Hazel had rehearsed on the way evaporated from her mind. Instead, she found herself returning the embrace, caught in the warmth of her little sister.
Hazel, at 23 years old, was only three years older than Althea but carried herself with a maturity that often made the gap feel wider.
Standing at 5’8", an inch taller than Althea, Hazel’s confident posture and striking features marked her as a beauty in her own right.
It was clear they shared the same genes—both were stunning in their own way, fruits of the same tree with only subtle differences. And Hazel was also a redhead.
For a moment, the sisters teared up, moved by the reunion.
The nosy women in the mansion, always eager for gossip, tactfully gave them some privacy, sensing this was no ordinary visit.
A minute later, Hazel and Althea were seated in a cozy corner, but the calm didn’t last.
Hazel exploded.
"What were you thinking, Althea?! You’re destroying yourself, your career, and your future just because of a playboy like Ross Oakley. He’s not worthy of you at all!" Hazel’s tone was sharp, her frustration evident.
"I love him, sis," Althea replied, still smiling, her expression dreamy. Her happiness only seemed to stoke Hazel’s anger further.
"You’re 20 and have only had one boyfriend! You were with Robin for six years, and now you’ve thrown that away for this? Don’t talk to me about love, Althea. You don’t know anything about it!" Hazel snapped, her words cutting like a blade.
"That may be so…" Althea said, her voice soft yet firm.
"But I’m sure Ross is the one for me. He’s my true love, Hazel. I’m willing to bet my life on it—my future, my career—everything feels empty compared to Ross."
Hazel stared at her sister, aghast. Althea looked like a love-struck fool, blind to reason, and Hazel’s frustration reached a boiling point.
Then, as if a light bulb had gone off in her head, her eyes widened in shock.
"Wait a minute," Hazel said, standing abruptly.
"Did you and Ross… Did you already sleep with him?"
The room went silent. Hazel’s question carried the weight of disbelief, and her piercing gaze demanded an answer.
The sisters had always been open with one another, sharing their hopes, dreams, fears, and even intimate milestones.
Hazel knew that the last time they talked, both of them had still been virgins.
Althea bit her lip, hesitation written all over her face. After a long pause, she nodded.
"That lucky son of a… gun!" Hazel groaned, slapping her forehead in exasperation.
It all made sense now—Althea’s dreamy demeanor, her unwavering devotion to Ross—it was because he had been her first. Hazel knew how powerful that first connection could be.
They said the first time was unforgettable, and it was painfully clear that Althea had been swept off her feet in just one week.
It was absurd!
"Come with me, Althea," Hazel pleaded, her voice softening.
"That kind of man doesn’t deserve you. You deserve better. You had Robin Smith, for Christ’s sake!"
"I’m sorry, sis. My life is with Ross. I won’t leave him. Not now. Not ever," Althea replied firmly, her eyes filled with conviction.
Hazel sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fine," she said, relenting slightly. "If you’re not going to listen to reason, then I’ll just have to talk to your boyfriend myself. Take me to him."
Althea hesitated, but eventually nodded. She had no idea what Hazel planned to say, but she led her sister toward the inner rooms of the mansion.
***
Huge shoutout and thanks to Danny_Back for the gifts!
You are awesome! Thank you! ^_^